The government’s ‘Transforming Justice’ programme is having wide-reaching effects in the way in which offender services are being delivered. After May 2014 the Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust will be dissolved. Managing and supporting high risk offenders will become the responsibility of the National Probation Service. A regional (Kent, Surrey and Sussex) Community Rehabilitation Company will have the responsibility for the rehabilitation and reducing offending of lower risk offenders with contracts being linked to Payment By Results.
Reductions in public funding and the redirection of community safety funding to the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner is encouraging new approaches, including of co-commissioning of services across Sussex. A review of Integrated Offender Management will inform the future direction of services across Sussex.